Car-sharing clubs in areas of rural Scotland with little or no alternative transport are being “devastated” by insurers hiking premiums, it is claimed. Such initiatives have been backed by the Scottish Government to help meet traffic reduction targets, but several clubs have been forced to close by soaring insurance costs. Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more.
Shared transport body CoMoUK said Car Bute shut last September, Moray Carshare was being wound up and others were at risk of closure. Jenny Milne, creator of the Scottish Rural and Islands Transport Community, said: “At least six community car clubs in Scotland have gone or going. “Some of the excesses are horrific, while some clubs have stayed open by agreeing to pay far higher premiums.
” Ms Milne said some clubs had bought electric cars with Scottish Government funding but had no insurance because they could not afford it. She said: “It is hitting areas hard that have no other transport.” CoMoUK chief executive Richard Dilks said: “Community car clubs in Scotland are being devastated by the insurance crisis.
Unless something changes soon, they will be wiped out. “Existing schemes are finding it impossible to renew their e.
